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Born an illegitimate female with no rights into poverty, María Eva Duarte de Perón, overcame insurmountable odds to lead a nation by her husband’s side because she allowed herself to want…to desire.

She is a controversial character because she wasn’t a saint. She was a woman of the people. That, in essence, became her strength because it enabled her to radically influence and reform the rights of the poor.

In addition, she eventually changed the rights of illegitimate children in Argentina forever by getting the term abolished from birth certificates and replaced by “natural.”

Revered by the common people, who affectionately called her “Evita,” she was also committed to women’s suffrage. She said, “The nation’s government has just handed me the bill that grants us our civil rights. I am receiving it before you, certain that I am accepting this on behalf of all Argentinean women, and I can feel my hands tremble with joy as they grasp the laurel proclaiming victory.”

She was human in her flaws and mortality, but she was transcendant in her fight, spirit, devotion to the people and love of her nation. Hers is a legacy worthy of celebration and study.

How are you turning what might be considered your weaknesses by some into your greatest tools to success and change?

You see it everywhere. You know the quote: “How you do one thing is how you do everything.” I call bullshit. I don’t write books the way I read them. You probably don’t cook or garden the way you clean house or nurture your spirituality or follow football.

Here’s a case in point. I am crap at an exercise routine. I’m crap at a blog writing routine. Does that mean that because I am not disciplining myself enough in those areas that I lack discipline in all areas — like say, parenting my child?

When I set my mind to something, I am full-f**king-throttle. Nothing can stop me. Nothing can distract me. I am so in the zone. My ideas are flowing like water off a duck’s ass. It’s ridiculous how blinders on, laser-focused, adrenaline-laced I can be.

I’m crap at those other things because I haven’t made them a priority…clearly. You can say that something is important, but you can truly tell when something is or isn’t. It falls through the cracks, down the list, shoved to the backburner. That doesn’t mean squat to how you treat everything.

Enough with the blanket statements. Enough with the excuses. If you want something bad enough, you make time for it. You do it. You do it so easily, blindly, passionately that it isn’t even a thing. It just is. It takes on a life of its own. So let it breathe.

So what one thing is pushing all that other stuff out of your vision? It’s probably that thing that consumes your desires, thoughts, actions. If it isn’t, then it probably should be.

Like a lot of you, one of my goals this year was to work on my confidence. Some of my peers thought this was odd because they consider me to be a confident woman. And I am…in some areas of my life. However, I believe confidence is more than one’s overall state. A person can be a confident driver, copywriter, cook or accountant, but a complete wreck when it comes to speaking in public. Another can be confident in one-on-one situations, but nervous in crowds. So confidence isn’t just, “Oh that person is super confident.” It’s about building confidence in the area or areas where you lack it, but wish you had it.

What you might find interesting, though, is that it’s in the areas where I am most confident that I’m actually working on building my confidence even more. That’s the thing. Confidence can make you complacent. You’re all comfy and secure in your awesomeness in some areas of life, that you don’t push yourself — your growth and limits — in these areas. So, what does this mean? How do you build confidence?

Step Out of Your Comfort Zone

Yes, I know that sounds like an oxymoron. “How am I supposed to build confidence if I’m purposely pushing myself into extremely uncomfortable zones?” My answer is probably best explained by using an example. How will you ever overcome a fear of flying and become a confident flyer if you avoid flying? You won’t. You can’t become confident without getting on a plane and confronting that fear.

Knowledge is Power

You must prepare. Whether that means hiring a coach, taking a class, reading up on the subject — you must arm yourself with knowledge. Yes, there will always be someone out there smarter than you in whatever area, but it isn’t about that. It’s about understanding what you’re up against, what you have to look forward to, and then digesting it all so that you can make the most informed choices and actions suited to the area in which you want to build confidence.

Surround Yourself with People Confident in the Area You’re Looking to be Confident in Yourself

Not the shortest section sub-head, but you get my point. I know people who shy away from the fellowship of like-minded individuals because they are afraid that those people they admire will see that they lack the very skill they are trying to hone. Poppycock. If someone that you supposedly admire looks down their nose at you for this, you’re admiring the wrong person. From my experience, people who are confident themselves are more than willing to share their knowledge, point you in the right direction, and rejoice with you when you succeed.

So forget the myths about confidence. You are confident in some area of your life. Hold on to that feeling, remember how you got that way, and take the steps (outside your comfort zone) to get there again. Always be working on this. Don’t get complacent. The world moves too fast to kid yourself into thinking you know it all about any subject.